Meet the Author

The FermentedlyChallenged blog has been retired since the end of October 2016. It has been a great 9 year run. Thanks to all the readers and brewery staff for all your support in the past. I'm living in the Denver metro area and working in the Cable TV industry now. Cheers and enjoy beer responsibly. Follow along on social media - @ChipperDave on Twitter and on Facebook.

Friday, January 31, 2014

Today is Backwards Day. it's one of those quirky made-up holidays where you are encouraged to do things backwards today. Whether it be walking, talking, doing things in reverse order - whatever you can think of. Just be safe when you try it. There's no real rhyme or reason to do it, just try it. ".gnihtemos gniod fo yaw wen a revocsid yam uoy dna nuf fo tol a eb tsuj thgim tI .swonk ohW" - If that doesn't suit your fancy, you can always celebrate Chinese New Year today - Year of the Horse! (A good omen for the Broncos) - Here's what's happening around the Colorado beerosphere today Friday, January 31st, 2014. If you aren't reading this article on FermentedlyChallenged.com, you don't know what you're missing.

Falling Rock Tap House (Denver) - There's a big list of the "World's Best Places For Beer" that just came out from Ratebeer.com and Falling Rock Tap House was named the best bar for beer in Colorado. To see the entire list of awards visit the Ratebeer site. More Colorado winners below.Arvada Beer Co (Arvada) - Their big and tasty 11.5% ABV 90 IBU Barleywine is now on tap at ABC. That plus 10 other beers on tap today. Check out their tap list below:

Black Shirt Brewing (Denver) - Here's a new kind of collaboration: Black Shirt Brewing has collaborated with Western Daughters Butcher Shop in Denver on a Super Bowl Beer Brat. It's made with their American Red Porter and locally-raised pork. They do all of the butchering, sausage-making, casing, etc in-house and it is reportedly DELICIOUS! The brats are available at their shop (3326 Tejon St - Denver) and are super-limited.

Former Future Brewing Co (Denver) - At long last, Former Future is going to hold their first soft opening at their location at 1290 S. Broadway in Denver, CO tomorrow, Saturday February 1st, 2014 at 4:00pm. If you are: a Federation Member, a participant in the "Redcoats" contest at South Denver Beer Fest, or were a Kickstarter backer (they have a list with all of your names) - please join them starting at 4pm. Feel free to bring a friend. Expect to see these beers on tap: Farmhouse IPA, English IPA, Robust Porter, Salted Caramel Porter, and a Belgian Wit. Their regular grand opening weekend will begin next Friday, February 7th where they expect to release their Breakfast Red. Details on hours will follow after this weekend.

Star Bar (Denver) - Star Bar is hosting a double beer release party today starting at 4:00pm featuring the return of Odell's Lugene Chocolate Milk Stout and New Belgium's Snapshot Wheat. Some of the brewery reps will be on hand for this event as well. Later on, they'll have live music from The Semaphores from 9pm to 1:30am.

Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project (Denver) - Don't forget, stop in for their St. Bretta Winter, a citrus witbier with 100% Brettanomyces. Available on draft and in bottles ($7 each) at The Source taproom.

Golden City Brewery (Golden) - Today you can get the Snow Day special. $3 Stout, Blackstrap & Imperial Pumpkin Porter all day today. Enjoy the fresh snow with your perfect cold weather brew.

Strange Brewing Co (Denver) - After months of limbo, Strange's Facebook page is finally back up as Strange Brewing Company!

Boulder County

Fate Brewing Co (Boulder) - FATE Brewing Company will celebrate its one year anniversary on Tuesday, February 4, 2014. The anniversary celebration is open to the public and will feature the First Release of the Veroandi New World Burton Anniversary Ale. The limited release ale is 11.5% ABV, 100+ IBU and includes Galaxy, Summer, Ella, Rakau, Motueka, and Nelson Sauvin Hops along with 2 Row, Crystal and Biscuit Malts. FATE will also offer food and beer specials, live music beginning at 8:00PM, and door prizes. FATE has received numerous awards in the first year of business including: Best New Colorado Brewery, Best New Restaurant in Boulder County, Gold Medal 2013 Denver International Beer Competition, Grand Champion BBQ, and more.

Avery Brewing Co (Boulder) - Another honor for a Colorado business came out this week. Avery Brewing Company was named as the best Brewer Tap Room in Colorado in Ratebeer.com's "World's Best Places For Beer 2013" list. Grats on making the list!

Crystal Springs Brewing (Louisville) - The Big Game is almost upon us and the brewery will be open for it with two big screen TVs and one rather large projection screen. You'll be able to see the game from anywhere in the tap room, upstairs or down. Mighty Joe's Cruisin' Kitchen will be there with their wonderful cuisine. They will open at 1:00pm for all the pre-game festivities! The week after, they will have 7 stouts on tap: Black Saddle, Black Saddle Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout Single Cask #s 1, 2, 3 and 4, Roadtrip Stout (a ginger and chocolate stout created by their own Kristin Alexander) and Salted Chocolate Stout (created by CSBC brewer, Colin Woods). PLUS, for a limited time (until it runs out) they will be offering their award winning Black Saddle Port Barrel Aged Stout. Then, February 13th they'll be hosting an "Anti Valentines Day" party for singles looking to meet other singles. Check out the fliers posted around the tap room for more details. PLUS! Starting February 3rd, they will be open 7 days a week! See their website for details.

Sanitas Brewing (Boulder) - There's a surprise new beer being released today. Stop in to try "The Waker" Espresso Stout. This beer weighs in at 6% ABV and was made with 10 gallons of Paul's Coffee & Tea cold-press Rocksteady Espresso. It has notes of baker's chocolate and dark fruit with big notes of fresh roasted coffee beans.

Twisted Pine Brewing (Boulder) - Come watch the big game on their spread of HD flat-screen TVs this Sunday, February 2nd. They'll have pre-game stuff on starting at 11am and lasting all the way through the game and until 9pm. They're offering up $10 pitchers of any year-round ales, and $2.50 Bloody Billy's and Big Shot Espresso Stouts. Plus, they'll have a supply of nachos, chili, and queso specials.

Left Hand Brewing (Longmont) - This afternoon they are releasing their 2014 Beer Week Sauce (a porter with coffee) made with Ethiopia Yirgacheffe coffee from Allergro. This brew has roasted grain and coffee flavors with a slight toffee character and an herbal hop kiss.

Mountain Sun Breweries (Boulder/Denver) - Stout Month begins tomorrow, Saturday February 1st and will run the entire month at all Mountain Sun breweries and restaurants. New stouts will be featured each day of the month. Come taste the dark side, it is your destiny.

Northern Colorado

Choice City Butcher & Deli (Ft. Collins) - Ratebeer.com just came out with their "World's Best Places For Beer 2013" and named Choice City the best restaurant in Colorado for beer. Congrats on this honor!

The Mayor of Old Town (Ft. Collins) - Today during Happy Hour - 3:00pm to 5:00pm - whenever you purchase an adult beverage, they will give you a free stuffed pretzel with dipping sauce. Always 100 great beers on tap and more in bottles too.

Verboten Brewing (Loveland) - Today is their 2nd day of their 3-day long 1st anniversary celebration. Today they are tapping three beers: 1) She's a Saint (a bourbon barrel-aged Mantooth Imperial IPA), 2) Bushmill's Barrel Aged Halt & Stay Imperial Red, and 3) Night Has Fallen, a blended barrel sour claimed to be their best sour yet. These beers will be served in 10oz pours or in a special flight of all three along with the two base beers: Angry Banjo and Mantooth for $10. Those who purchase a flight will get a Verboten Anniversary commemorative glass while supplies last.

Funkwerks (Ft. Collins) - Do you wanna build a snowman? No, not Disney's Frozen song, they mean building a snowman for real. Come build the best snowman outside of Funkwerks. The best one will earn the winner a free beer.

Grimm Brothers (Loveland) - The Bros have tapped on firkin today which is a Dry Hopped Snow Drop with Ultra hops. This hop brings out a soft fruity note with a light herbal aroma that blends well with the earthy malty flavor from Snow Drop. So put on your dancing shoes and come try this flavorful firkin. They will be open limited hours on Sunday from 11am to 4pm only. Stock up before the Big Game!

Wiley Roots Brewing (Greeley) - Today the Celebration of Dark Beer continues tonight with the 6:30pm release of their Chocolate Vanilla Porter. Also going on tap is the last keg of aPUMPalyptica Imperial Pumpkin Ale.

Southern Front Range

Trinity Brewing (Colorado Springs) - For the second straight year, Trinity Brewing Company has been named Best Brewpub in Colorado 2013 by Ratebeer.com in their list of World's Best Places For Beer By Subregion. Congrats to Trinity for defending their title from last year!

Gunnison Brewery (Gunnison) - They just received 22 inches of new snow in the last 24 hours. How much snow did your local brewery get last night? Heck ya they're open.

San Luis Valley Brewing (Alamosa) - Come join in at the pub for lots of great Big Game day specials and excitement as they cheer our Broncos on to their third Super Bowl trophy. The party lasts all day with the game starting at 4:30pm. Get $2.50 pints on all their beers. They also have deals on kegs for your own Super Bowl party, $10 off 15.5 gallon kegs and $5 off 5 gallon kegs. Pick up your keg anytime before the big game to get the deal. Call me (Andrew) at (719)588-0091 anytime to reserve your kegs.
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Colorado Beer News is published on Fermentedly Challenged daily (Monday through Friday) with craft beer stories as they break from newsletters, emails and social media sites. This news is intended for audiences of legal drinking age (21+). If you'd like to subscribe to this daily by email, sign-up here. Please, always drink responsibly and use a designated driver.